Mixed Final Part II David Stern (Australia) Following my articles in which I heavily criticised the organisers regarding Menton, Gianarrigo invited me to attend Tenerife to experience what he assured me would be an exciting tournament which would correct all of the shortcomings of Menton and deliver a world class event. Most importantly he assured me that the venue would be air-conditioned!! Well Tenerife has indeed delivered – it is one of the most alluring resorts I have been to and the hotel and playing rooms are befitting of a European Championship. My congratulations to the EBL for performing a radical turnaround. And so to the bridge. When I learnt bridge ahem years ago it was drummed into us not to pre-empt with a side four card major. Modern bidding however dictates that anything goes. Board 25 from the final: Board 25. Dealer North. E/W Vul.   ♠ K J 10 6 ♥ Q 9 5 3 ♦ A 8 ♣ 7 6 3 ♠ 9 5 4 ♥ A K J ♦ Q 10 9 6 2 ♣ J 4 ♠ Q 8 ♥ 8 7 6 2 ♦ K J 5 4 3 ♣ A 8   ♠ A 7 3 2 ♥ 10 4 ♦ 7 ♣ K Q 10 9 5 2 West North East South Goldberg E Erichsen Goldberg H Erichsen   Pass Pass 3♣ Pass Pass Pass   This must have felt like a possible loss to N/S but… West North East South Helness Efraimsson Helness Svedlund   Pass Pass Pass Pass       + 4 IMPS Ok back to modern bidding for me….. Board 30. Dealer East. None Vul.   ♠ 9 5 2 ♥ A J 5 ♦ A J 7 6 5 ♣ J 3 ♠ A Q J 10 ♥ Q 8 7 3 ♦ - ♣ A K 10 5 2 ♠ K 8 6 4 ♥ 9 6 4 ♦ K Q 10 9 4 ♣ 4   ♠ 7 3 ♥ K 10 2 ♦ 8 3 2 ♣ Q 9 8 7 6 West North East South Goldberg E Erichsen Goldberg H Erichsen     Pass Pass 1♣ Pass 1♠ Pass 4♦* Pass 4♠ All Pass South lead a club which proved to be fatal. Perhaps with the knowledge that West was short in diamonds and therefore by inference long in the black suits South should have considered a trump lead which would prove fatal for declarer given the lack of high card tricks. At the other table: West North East South Helness Efraimsson Helness Svedlund     Pass Pass 1♣ 1♦ Pass Pass Double All Pass     I don’t think anyone would crime a 1♦ overcall in the modern game but there is a theory that a 1♦ overcall should be strongly lead suggesting – is A-J-7-6-5 really a suit in which one should suggest a lead? I leave it to you to decide. It proved very successful here with the contract going one down for -100 and 8 IMPS to the Swedes. I spoke to the organisers about the level of entries which are a little less than anticipated and they felt that the non-mainland location may have had an impact. All I can say is that those who did not make the extra effort to come to Tenerife have missed a great tournament at a great location. Tornye Brogeland found an excellent bid on the following hand: Board 7. Dealer South. All Vul.   ♠ A 8 7 5 2 ♥ 10 8 5 ♦ 4 ♣ A J 5 2 ♠ 10 6 ♥ 7 3 ♦ 10 9 5 3 2 ♣ K Q 10 8 ♠ K J 4 ♥ A K Q 6 4 2 ♦ A K ♣ 7 3   ♠ Q 9 3 ♥ J 9 ♦ Q J 8 7 6 ♣ 9 6 4 West North East South B Brogeland Goldberg T Brogeland Goldberg       Pass   ass 1♠ Double 2♠ 2NT* Pass 3NT All Pass Knowing that the minors were probably well stopped and even with the lead coming through the high spades Tornye assessed NT as being a better contract that hearts and was rewarded when Boye made 10 tricks. West North East South Efraimsson T Helness Svedlund G Helness     Pass   Pass 1♠ Double 2♠ 3♣ Pass 3♥ All Pass East presumably showed a strong single suited hand by doubling then bidding her suit. However West had no way of realising how strong and decided to pass allowing Erichsen to pick up 10 IMPS. Time now to report a hand in which both teams did not excel. Board 9. Dealer North. E/W Vul.   ♠ A Q 10 ♥ 7 6 ♦ Q 9 6 ♣ A K 9 4 3 ♠ K J 8 3 ♥ 10 ♦ K 5 4 3 2 ♣ 7 6 2 ♠ 9 7 6 5 2 ♥ A K Q 9 2 ♦ 7 ♣ Q 5   ♠ 4 ♥ J 8 5 4 3 ♦ A J 10 8 ♣ J 10 8 Open Room West North East South Efraimsson T Helness Svedlund G Helness   1NT 2♣* Double 2♠ 3♣ 4♠ 5♣!! 5♠!! Double All Pass   Closed Room West North East South B Brogeland Goldberg T Brogeland Goldberg   1NT 2♣* 2♥ 2♠ Pass 3♠ Pass 4♠ Double All Pass   West certainly pushed to bid 4ª in the closed room and must have felt sick going for 800 against seemingly nothing. I am sure during the scoreup he was surprised to see +7 IMPS emerge on the board. E/W had a chance to go plus The hand that saw Erichsen win the event came with three boards to go: Board 14. Dealer East. None Vul.   ♠ K 7 5 4 ♥ Q J 8 6 ♦ A 4 2 ♣ K 7 ♠ - ♥ K 10 7 5 2 ♦ K Q 10 9 5 3 ♣ 3 2 ♠ 10 9 8 3 2 ♥ 9 4 ♦ 7 ♣ J 10 9 8 6   ♠ A Q J 6 ♥ A 3 ♦ J 8 6 ♣ A Q 5 4 Open Room West North East South Efraimsson T Helness Svedlund G Helness   Pass 1♣     4♦ Double All Pass Result -500 Closed Room West North East South B Brogeland Goldberg T Brogeland Goldberg   Pass 1♣   4♦ Double Pass 4♠   Pass 6♠ All Pass Result -100 Clearly defending 4¨ is a winning action yielding 500 which is adequate compensation for any game that may make but not if slam is possible. On this hand North’s aggressive action proved his undoing. Even with and spades breaking there is a strong likliehood that the heart finesse will fail giving the defence two sure tricks. (The merits of 4♦ are unclear to me – and with best defence – a black suit lead instead of a trump – it can cost 1100. Editor) Congratulations to the Norwegian, Espen and Helen Erichsen, Boye and Tornye Brogeland and Tor and Gun Hellness on winning a very hard fought final.

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